Combined hitching device and guard for tractors or the like



Aprll 24, 1951 s, s o TzFus 2,550,310

' COMBINED HITCHING DEVICE AND GUARD FOR TRACTORS QR THE LIKE Filed June 16, 1949 r JNVENTOR.

I N MS. STOLTZFUS,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24,195]

COMBINED HITCHING DEVICE AND GUARD FOR TRACTORS OR THE LIKE Menno S. Stcltzfus, Cochranville, Pa. Application June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,532

= LMY, invention relatesto a combined hitching device and guard for tractors or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character :which' is extremenly simple in construction, strong "and durable. A further objectof the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character so constructed that the pull when the unit is used as a hitching device is transmitted directly to the attaching lugs.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined hitching device and guard embodying my invention, showing the same applied to the front end of a tractor,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the combined hitching device and guard removed,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the combined hitching device and guard removed, and,

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line 7-1 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates the chassis of a tractor provided at its front end with the usual radiator H. Thi tractor may be of the type employed for agricultural purposes.

My combined hitching device and guard is designated as a whole by the numeral l2 and is arranged vertically in advance of the radiator I l, as shown. The device comprises an elongated rectangular frame 13 including sides M, a top 15 and bottom 16. These elements are preferably formed of a steel'bar square in cross-section. The top l and bottom 16 are connected with the sides It by rounded corners H. The top l5 and bottom it are longitudinally curved in a horizontal plane, whereby the entire guard is cylindrically curved, with its convex face arranged forwardly. Arranged within the frame l3 are vertical spaced bars I8, preferably formed of steel and preferably square in cross-section. These bars !8 are parallel with the sides l4 and are rigidly and integrally connected with the top and bottom by welding It is thus seen that I have provided a guard element which is cylindri- 2 Claims. (Cl. 28033.44)

cally curved and which is extremenly stiff-and strong. t

Arranged near, above, and spaced .from the bottom 16, and rearwardly of the sides l4,=are lower attaching lugs l9, preferably formed of steel. These lugs are rigidly and integrally connected with thesides I4 by welding: Thelugs iii are in horizontal alignment and have horizontally spaced apertures 20. The lugs I9 are positioned adjacent to the inner edges of the sides l4, Figure 5, and have their forward ends inwardly beveled, as at l9 to provide abutting faces between the sides l4 and lugs, and to facilitate the proper welding of the lugs to the sides H.

The numeral 21 designate a horizontal bridge, preferably formed of steel. This bridge is wide and has a longitudinally curved convex forward edge 22. The rear edge 22' of the bridge is straight, as shown. The bridge ha its ends arranged in abutting relation with the inner faces of the lugs 19, and such ends are rigidly and integrally connected with the lugs l9 by welding, as indicated at 23. The curved edge 22 abuts the rear faces of the sides M and the rear faces of the bars l8 and is integrally and rigidly secured thereto by welding, as shown at 24 and 25. The bridge 21 is wide and strong and isprovided at its longitudinal center with an opening 26 for receiving a pull element, such as a chain or cable. Upstanding diagonal bars or brace 2'! are provided, and have their upper ends 28 beveled and integrally welded to the rear faces of the sides l4, Figure 4. The lower ends 29 of the braces 21 are integrally welded to the top edges of lugs l9, as shown, and the braces 21 are in vertical alignment with the lugs.

The device is applied to the forward end of the chassis l9 by horizontal bars 3%], secured to the lugs 19 by bolts 31 which pass through the spaced apertures 28. The horizontal bars 30 are attached to the chassis in by bolts 32. The horizontal bars 3|! are disposed laterally outwardly of the lugs l9, and have their forward end disposed rearwardly of the sides l4, Figure 5, so that they contact therewith and prevent any swinging movement of the guard l2 with relation 7 to the chassis.

mitted directly to the lugs 19 through the bridge 2|.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combined hitching device and guard, comprising an upstanding cylindrically curved guard element including a frame embodying upstanding sides and a top and bottom, the top and bottom being longitudinally curved, upstanding bars within the frame and rigidly secured to the top and bottom, lower attaching lugs arrangednear the bottom and rigidly secured to the sides and extending rearwardly of the sides, an a substantially horizontal wide bridge having a forward longitudinally curved face which abuts the upstanding bars and is integrally connected therewith and ends which abut the inner faces of the attaching lugs and are integrally connected therewith, said bridge having an opening near 2 its longitudinal center.

2. A combined hitching device and guard, comprising an upstanding cylindrically curved guard element including a frame embodying upstanding sides and a top and bottom, the top and bottom being longitudinally curved, upstanding bars Within the frame and rigidly secured to the top and bottom, lower attaching lugs arranged near the bottom and disposed in abutting relation with the rear faces of the sides and integrally secured to such rear faces, a substantially horizontal wide bridge having a forward longitudinally curved face which abuts the upstanding bars and is integrally connected therewith and ends which abut the inner faces of the attaching lugs and are integrallyconnected therewith, said bridge having an opening near it longitudinal center, and diagonal braces having their lower ends connected with the lugs and their upper ends connected with the sides of the guard.

MENNO S. STOL'IZFUS.

REFERENCES CITED f he following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,399,810 Ketcham May 7, 1946 2,492,410 Arps Dec. 7, 1947 

